Fantasy Baseball 2013: Comeback Sleepers Who Are Worth the Risk

Fantasy Baseball sleepers are best found when looking at top performers who had down seasons the year prior. Whether it is an injury or a slump, pearls can be found among the sea of names that fantasy players must sift through on draft day.

Veterans being put into favorable positions and youngsters on the verge of a breakout are also possible candidates to look at.

We’ve got a couple listed here for you. Take a look and be sure to keep these guys in mind on draft day.

Victor Martinez, C, Detroit Tigers

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Victor Martinez missed the entire Detroit Tigers 2012 World Series run after tearing his left ACL during offseason conditioning.

The 34-year-old veteran will likely play very little, if any, at catcher this season after rehabilitating from that injury. That means you’ll be getting a designated hitter who will also likely carry the catcher label. You can’t beat that. Catchers typically rotate due to the wear and tear of a 162-game season, and Martinez should be a fixture in a potent Tigers lineup.

Martinez is in a prime position to have a big comeback season at the plate and will likely fly largely under the radar on draft day. Remember, he hit .330 at the plate, slugged 12 home runs and drove in 103 runs in 2011, his first season with the Tigers.

Logan Morrison, OF, Miami Marlins

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Miami Marlins left fielder Logan Morrison is the definition of “comeback sleeper” in 2013. The 25-year-old struggled with injuries and consistency last year after a very promising start to his career. In 123 games in 2011, he plated 72 runners, hit 36 home runs and batted .247.

He hit just .230 in 93 games while smacking 11 home runs and driving 36 runs home in 2012.

Morrison is a disciplined hitter, though, which should allow him to benefit from having a full season's worth of at-bats in 2013. He swings at just 23.7 percent of pitches outside of the strike zone in his career, a good bit under the league average of 30 percent.

Dustin Ackley, 2B, Seattle Mariners

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A comeback isn’t just about bouncing back from injuries; poor performances also qualify.

In just 90 games in 2011, Ackley impressed, hitting .273, drilling six home runs and recording 36 RBI. More plate appearances for the second baseman saw a spike in homers, but also a big dip in batting average (.226) and an increase in strikeouts (124).

This season is a make-or-break year for Ackley. He’s worth consideration for a sleeper selection, mostly because if his play catches up to his potential, you will have a solid everyday starter at a lackluster second base position.